This Day in Music History: October 24th

1967 Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd melts down on the Pat Boone show. When the band mimes the song “Apples and Oranges” for the show, Barrett refuses to lip-sync. He just stares at the cameras – finally Roger Waters lip-syncs the song in his place. The tour is cut short after Barrett de-tunes his guitar and makes random sounds with it during a show at the Fillmore West. He is replaced for live shows by David Gilmour soon after.

Throughout late 1967 and 1968, Barrett’s behavior gets progressively more erratic. His state of mind has been attributed to his heavy use of psychedelic drugs, the onset of mental illness, or both. Although he had written the bulk of the band’s songs up until then, Barrett stopped writing music for Pink Floyd after the A Saucerful of Secrets album is released in 1968. In April of that year, Barrett officially leaves the group.

Barrett went on to release two solo albums, The Madcap Laughs and Barrett. After 1972, he became increasingly more reclusive, and never released another album. The other members of Pink Floyd never forgot him, recording several tribute songs to him – most notably, 1975′s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”

Syd Barrett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, although he didn’t attend the ceremony. He died on July 7th, 2006.

Other Events on This Day in History

1937

While Cole Porter is riding in Locust Valley, NY, his horse falls and rolls over him, crushing his legs – injury results in lifelong pain

1960

Neil Sedaka records “Calendar Girl”

1962

James Brown records Live at the Apollo album – ultimately becomes #24 in Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” issue in 2003

1964

T.A.M.I. (Teen Age Music International) Show held in Santa Barbara, CA, featuring Chuck Berry, The Supremes, The Beach Boys, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones, The Miracles, Jan & Dean, Lesley Gore and Gerry and the Pacemakers

1970

Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother album #1 on UK charts

President Richard Nixon delivers White House address to National Association of Broadcasters, urging radio stations ban songs with drug-related lyrics

1973

John Lennon sues U.S. Government, accusing them of tapping his phone

Keith Richards fined £205 after admitting having drugs and revolver at Chelsea home

New York City declares October 24th “Tony Bennett Day”, who puts on concert at Radio City Music Hall to celebrate

1996

Motown founder Berry Gordy gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

1998

Former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown jailed 4 months for disorderly conduct during flight from Paris to Manchester; had threatened to chop off flight attendant’s hands

2004

Queen becomes first rock band receiving Iranian Government seal of approval when Greatest Hits album officially released there – Freddie Mercury’s Iranian ancestry and bootlegs of Queen’s music placed them among most popular bands in Iran